A Few Good Reads

“Why are We Flushing Thousands of Years Down the Toilet?”
David Murray addresses the confusion in our culture about gender and sexuality. He wonders why we would rush changes in our culture ignoring thousands of years of precedent and comes up with fifteen reasons why we might do so. “Until we understand the motives behind these decrees and decisions, we’ll never be able to argue successfully at the deepest level of the heart and mind. And we’ll never get to our knees and pray that the God who holds the king’s heart in His hand, just like the rivers of water, would turn it wherever He wishes (Prov. 21:1).”

“Don’t Waste Your Summer”
School ended for the Summer here in Shelby County yesterday, so Kevin DeYoung’s suggestions for making the most of our summer came at an appropriate time. “In a little over three months we’ll all be moaning, “Where did the summer go? I can’t believe it’s over.” So what can we do over the next hundred days or so to help alleviate that feeling of loss? Or to put it positively, what can we do to make the most of June, July, and August? Here are twenty suggestions.”

“What Does the Word “Gospel” Mean in the New Testament?“
Since the word “gospel” is integral to Christianity, it’s important to know what it means. R.C. Sproul shares three ways the New Testament uses this word and how this should impact our understanding of what the good news is. “The gospel is under attack in the church today. I cannot stress enough how important it is to get the gospel right and to understand both the objective aspect of the person and work of Jesus and the subjective dimension of how we benefit from that by faith alone.”

“Getting to the Heart of Atonement”
Speaking of the Gospel, Jesus’ death in our place for our sins stands as an essential element of the Gospel. Therefore, we must have a right understanding of Jesus’ death for us. Bill Mounce explains several words related to the atonement and how they help shape our conception of Jesus’ death. “Everything we need for God’s forgiveness, for the removal of God’s anger, and for reconciliation with God himself can be found in Jesus.”

Living in the Light: Money, Sex, and Power
Tim Keller has often said that the three greatest idols we face are money, sex, and power. In his latest book John Piper helps us keep Christ at the center of our lives so we know how to approach these in the proper way. You can read an excerpt at The Gospel Coalition. “When Christ is our supreme treasure, we are able to keep money, sex and power in their proper place, enjoying them and glorifying God with them instead of rejecting them or worshiping them.”

Missional Motherhood
Many mothers struggle with feeling like the work they do with their children doesn’t feel like it contributes to the advancement of God’s kingdom. Gloria Furman’s new book helps mothers understand how their labors further the work of the gospel. You can read an excerpt at The Gospel Coalition. “Despite the routine tasks and mundane to-do lists, motherhood is anything but insignificant. God has designed motherhood as part of his greater plan to draw people to himself—instilling all women, whether called to traditional mothering or not, with an eternal purpose in nurturing others.”